morning moments

When the sun streams through the back windows and falls softly on the floor each morning, you beam.  Something about the soft morning light, the warmth and a good night's rest strikes a delightful cord in your little mind.  Your eyes light up and you are happy--happy to talk, coo, play and just be here with us.  We look forward to this time each day.  It is a fresh start to our day, unclouded with frustrations or fussiness.  A beautiful beginning indeed!

three

You are desperately trying to find your thumb.  This problem occurs at approximately 4:30am each day.  You fuss and squirm trying to find a piece of your hand you can suck on.  The binky will do for a bit but eventually you spit it out in search of something on your hand.  I have never wanted a child to suck his/her thumb so bad.  

-You've found your feet and enjoy rolling around while holding them.

-The faint hint of a giggle has popped up recently when we are playing with you.

-You are rolling over to your belly in hopes of crawling across the floor to the toys your sisters play with.  You are convinced that screaming will move you across the room.

-Your head of hair has gotten thicker and longer and the color seems to be turning more of a red color. It hasn't fallen out yet like we thought it might.

This month you have most enjoyed...

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your little play mat/gym.  

We hook toys above you and you enjoy grabbing and hitting them.

You also have become quite attached to your little blankets.  

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You often fall asleep while holding them in both your hands.

You are already wearing some 6 month clothing!  We are blown away at how fast you are growing.

don't forget!

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I know, how could anyone forget to vote with all the ads shoved in our faces and signs littering the side of the roads each day. But just in case you are immune to all that, don't for get to vote! Doesn't matter who you prefer, just vote!

Halloween candy cookies: a solution to the endless supply of candy

What to do with all the Halloween candy?  We have found a solution...cookies!

Cookies to bake together and share with friends!

Instead of chocolate chips in this recipe, we used chopped up Halloween candy!  The cookies were mighty tasty and easy to share.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

from Ghirardeli 

Yield: 

4 dozen cookies

Ingredients: 

11 ¹/₂ ounces Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips   Halloween candy chocolate pieces chopped 
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
³/₄ cup sugar
³/₄ cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 ¹/₄ cups unsifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¹/₂ teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)

Directions

Heat oven to 375ºF.

Stir flour with baking soda and salt; set aside. In large mixing bowl, beat butter with sugar and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy and lightened in color. Add eggs and vanilla, one at a time. Mix on low speed until incorporated. Gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.

spooky noodle dinner {a little late, but fun}

I made this spooky little dinner for my kids on Halloween.  It was a big hit among the little ones and adults too.  I think it would be a great dinner any night. 

 I heard this recipe on XM radio one day when I was flipping through...I don't have a source.

Ingredients:

1 pack of hot dogs

1 box of spaghetti noodles 

(I used whole wheat noodles--with the hot dogs and sauce they didn't know any different)

1 jar of marinara sauce

Cut the hot dogs in to small circles.  Take uncooked spaghetti noodles and poke them into the hot dog slices.  Boil the noodles (with hot dogs attached) per package instructions.

Serve spooky noodles with marinara sauce.

Enjoy!

halloween

The pumpkins were carved according to their owners' specifications... 

The table was set with a frightening skull centerpiece...

Spooky noodles were made and cooked...

{recipe to come}

The sun slipped below the horizon as costumes were put on excited little people...

 

And the trick-or-treating began...

and lasted far longer into the night than anyone would have predicted.

Now...what to do with all the candy?